The Kaduna State Government Wenesday confirmed the Sunday's abduction of many persons at Kurmin Wali village in Kajuru Local Government Area of the state.
Governor Uba Sani confirmed the abduction during his visit to the village where he consoled the residents.
The state government and the police command had on Monday dismissed reports of the incident.
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They had said that security assessments conducted in the area did not support the claims of a large-scale kidnapping of church members, challenging the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and other residents to provide evidence of the abduction.
The denial by the government and the police came amid the claims by the CAN and residents of the village, including those who escaped from the attack and families of the captives, that dozens of people were abducted and herded into the bush.
The chairman of the CAN in the 19 northern states, Rev. Joseph John Hayab, had, on Monday, said two churches were affected during the attack.
"I don't like talking about numbers, but information I received from the area indicated that about 172 people were abducted, while nine managed to escape, leaving about 163 still in the custody of the abductors," he had said.
He described the incident as painful but insisted that the church would not lose hope.
"It is a very tough and sad situation, but we will not give up. The security agencies and the government are making efforts towards restoring peace in Kaduna, and we acknowledge and appreciate that," he said.
The state's Commissioner for Internal Security and Home, Sule Shauibu, had also stated on Monday that the CAN chairman and other religious leaders had interacted with the people of the area where the so-called kidnap occurred.
"They found out that what was pushed out to the public sphere was completely false," the commissioner had stated.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Muhammad Rabiu, had also on Monday described reports of the kidnapping of 163 worshippers the area as false.
The CP, while addressing reporters after the State Security Council meeting at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, had challenged anyone making the claim to list the names of the alleged victims and provide other particulars.
"Till now, nobody has been able to provide the name of any person allegedly kidnapped from the community," CP Rabiu had claimed.
Also, the Executive Chairman of Kajuru Local Government Area, Dauda Madaki, had also on Monday dismissed reports of the attack as rumours.
Madaki had said he personally visited the area after hearing the reports, accompanied by security agencies.
He said: "When he heard the rumour of the attack, we mobilised the police and other security forces to the area, Kurmin Wali, but found out that there was no attack.
"We visited the church where the so-called kidnapping took place. There was no evidence of the attack. I asked the village head, Mai Dan Zaria, and he said that there was no such attack.
"I also called the youth leader of the area, Bernard Bona, who was interviewed by the pressmen who accompanied me, and he said that no such thing happened.
"So, I challenge anyone to name the people that were kidnapped, and I have been waiting for this list, and no one has come forward with a name.
"I believe that the rumour of the kidnap is being sponsored by people who are not happy with the relative peace that Kajuru has been enjoying since the coming of this administration, Madaki had said.
To get further information on the matter, our correspondent visited the community on Tuesday, where he spoke with those who escaped from the captors' den as well as some families of the captives.
One of them, Jonathan Na Allah, told Daily Trust that bandits abducted his wife and five children during the attack.
Another resident, who identified himself as Joseph's father, said though he escaped, his wife and child were still held.
The village head, Ishaku Dan'azumi Sidi, had also told Daily Trust on Tuesday that at least 166 people were currently in the custody of the bandits.
Police confirm abduction, deploy forces
And hours after newsmen visited the community, the Nigeria Police Force confirmed the abduction.
This, followed verification and intelligence assessments by security operatives.
Force spokesman, Benjamin Hundeyin, said the police acknowledged the widespread public concern generated by early reports of the incident, noting that such developments naturally provoke fear and anxiety among residents and families.
"Upon receiving the report, Kaduna State Governor convened an emergency meeting of the State Security Council at the Government House in Kaduna to review the situation.
"During the meeting, some individuals from Kajuru Local Government Area reportedly disputed the earlier police confirmation of the abduction, describing the report as false", he said.
He said the disagreement created uncertainty and highlighted the need for restraint and thorough verification by security agencies before issuing definitive public statements.
He said the comments made by the Kaduna CP during a media interaction at the time were intended to prevent unnecessary panic while security agencies worked to establish the facts on the ground.
"These remarks were not a denial of the incident," the statement said, adding that they were preliminary responses pending confirmation of critical details, including the number of victims and their identities," he said.
He said following further investigations, operational units and intelligence sources had confirmed that the abduction indeed took place at Kurmin Wali.
The Force spokesman said the police had activated coordinated security operations in collaboration with other security agencies to track down the perpetrators and secure the safe rescue of the victims.
He said the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had ordered the immediate deployment of critical operational and intelligence assets to Kajuru and surrounding communities.
"The measures include the deployment of tactical units, intensified patrols, targeted search-and-rescue operations, and proactive steps to restore calm and protect lives and property in the area", he stated.
Proximity to forest made abduction easy - Kaduna Gov
Yesterday, Governor Uba Sani, accompanied by security chiefs and top government officials, visited Kurmin Wali village and met with community leaders and residents.
The governor assured them of the government's commitment to securing the release of those abducted.
He said that the proximity of the community to Rijana forest made the abduction easy.
Sani said his administration placed the highest priority on the protection of lives and property, stressing that efforts were ongoing to ensure the safe return of the abducted persons.
He said the security agencies had taken time to properly assess the incident, adding that the state government had been working closely with relevant agencies, including the military, the Department of State Services (DSS), the police and the Office of the National Security Adviser, to secure the release of the victims.
The governor noted that there had been speculation about the number of people abducted but said neither the community nor security agencies could, as of now, confirm the exact figure.
"We are not talking about numbers. Even if it is one person, that life is important to the government. What matters is the sanctity of human life and dignity," he said.
Governor Sani also cautioned against politicising security challenges, noting his administration does not view security issues through religious or ethnic lenses.
"It is not about religion or ethnicity. We will protect the lives of everyone in Kaduna State. We are running an inclusive government," he said, thanking the people of Kurmin Wali for their trust and cooperation.
He criticised individuals who, according to him, were making comments from afar and politicising the incident.
He further promised the community that his administration would construct road and a hospital, and ensure that soldiers are deployed to the community to protect the lives of the people and their property.
Expert faults security communication gaps
A security expert and homeland security quality assurance assessor, Detective Auwal Bala Durumin Iya, said the conflicting statements issued by government authorities and security agencies exposed what he described as "serious communication gaps" within the security architecture.
He said in security operations, incidents often fall into three categories -- reported and recorded cases, reported but unrecorded cases and unreported cases, warning that failure to properly verify information before public disclosure could lead to embarrassment and loss of public trust.
According to him, security agencies should exercise caution before issuing statements on sensitive incidents, especially when facts are still being verified.
"In security situations, information must be properly confirmed before it is disseminated. If you rely on unverified or incomplete reports, you will end up confusing the public and contradicting yourself later," he said.
Iya said it was inappropriate for top security officials to deny incidents based on preliminary or unclear reports, noting that such responsibilities should initially rest with designated spokespersons.
"If the information is not clear, senior officers should refrain from making categorical statements. Once the facts are established, the appropriate officer can then brief the public accurately and, if necessary, apologise for earlier misinformation," he said.
He described the recent incident as a clear case of communication failure, where authorities initially denied the occurrence of a kidnapping, only to later confirm it after journalists interviewed victims and their relatives.
The security expert advised the police and government officials to openly acknowledge mistakes when incorrect information is released, rather than persisting in denial.
"When security agencies discover that the information they initially provided was wrong, they should come out openly to correct it. Denial only deepens public mistrust," he said.
Iya further said officers assigned to verify incidents but return with false or misleading reports should be sanctioned, stressing that inaccurate intelligence gathering could damage the credibility of the entire security institution.
He also described the embarrassment caused by such reversals as avoidable, noting that proper verification and accountability would strengthen public confidence in security agencies.
Like Kurmin Wali, like Chibok
The initial denial by the Kaduna State Government and the police that there was no incident of mass abduction at Kurmin Wali community is reminiscent of the early denials that trailed the abduction of 276 schoolgirls from the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, in 2014 by Boko Haram insurgents.
In the immediate aftermath of the April 14, 2014 Chibok abduction, Nigerian authorities initially issued conflicting statements and denials that cast doubt on the scale and credibility of the incident.
In the days following the attack, government officials and security agencies said they were still investigating claims that hundreds of girls were taken, creating uncertainty about the incident.
The then Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, also said at the time that the federal government was working to verify the claims, noting that there were "conflicting figures" regarding the number of girls allegedly abducted.
As public outrage grew, some government officials and supporters of the ruling party alleged that the abduction narrative was being politicised to discredit the administration of then President Goodluck Jonathan.
The #BringBackOurGirls campaign was initially dismissed in some quarters as a political tool rather than a genuine advocacy movement.
The government later fully acknowledged the abduction following confirmation from parents, community leaders, and the release of videos by Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, which showed the abducted girls.
Days later, Amnesty International, in a report published on May 9, 2014, revealed that Nigerian security forces failed to act on advance warnings about Boko Haram's raid on the boarding school in Chibok.
The organisation said the military headquarters in Maiduguri had more than four hours' advance warning about the attack but did not do enough to stop it.
However, the Defence Headquarters refuted the claims. In a statement signed by Chris Olukolade, then Director of Defence Information, the DHQ said the allegation by Amnesty International that the military authorities were informed of the impending attack but failed to nip it in the bud was very unfortunate and untrue.
"It must therefore be clearly stated that, contrary to the claim by Amnesty International, the information received by troops at the Division Headquarters in Maiduguri was not a forewarning but a call for reinforcement by troops on patrol," he said.
Denial shows APC treats insecurity with levity - PDP
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in a statement yesterday by its spokesman, Ini Ememobong, alleged that the federal government's silence and the "outright denial" of the abduction by the Kaduna State Police command and Kajuru LGA chairman is a "dangerous pattern recurrent in the course of this administration's normalisation of insecurity and a deliberate attempt to obscure the truth from Nigerians".
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It asked the Kaduna police command and the Kajuru LGA chairman to apologise to Nigerians for the denial.
The party stated: "These denials are deeply hurtful, not only because they are evidently false, but because they reveal the manifest levity with which this administration treats serious matters like security.
"What makes this even more painful is that, according to the villagers, the police were immediately alerted when the kidnapping occurred. They had the opportunity to act. Instead, they chose denial, prioritising the government's image over the lives of 163 Nigerians.
"This act of public betrayal and failed cover-up is most shameful and condemnable," the party said.
The PDP urged the federal government to deploy "a high-powered security team to trace, rescue and safely return these kidnapped Nigerians to their homes and families."
Names of 177 worshippers abducted from Kaduna churches
- Samson Naallah
- Ezekiel Naallah
- Christopher Naallah
- Martin Samson
- Moses Samson
- Clever Godwin
- Jerusalem Chindo
- Markus Markus
- Benjamin Markus
- Albert Markus
- Ofelana Markus
- Linus Markus
- Hassana Linus
- Ojo Bamboya
- Esther Ojo
- Mary Jonathan
- George Jonathan
- Careful Jonathan
- EF James
- Morin Boniface
- Junior James
- Happiness Jonathan
- Honest Jonathan
- Honesty Jonathan
- Faith Luka
- Beauty Luka
- Junior Luka
- Rosemary Luka
- Dorothy Luka
- Selina Luka
- Alice Bamboya
- Magdalena Godwin
- Hassan Ishaya
- Lazarus Ishaya
- Marta Ishaya
- Zummunta Ishaya
- Salvation Ishaya
- Susana Linus
- Jummal Linus
- Peace Joshua
- Zahaya Joshua
- Nabilah Makudi
ad
43.Hajara Makudi
- Rebecca Hosea
- Ahmad Ahmad
- Liyu Ezekiel
- Vivian Ezekiel
- Goodluck Ezekiel
- Beauty Ezekiel
- Matina Maiyashi
- Bridget Maiyashi
- Vivian Linus
- Mary Amos
- Hamid Amos
- Patricia Amos
- Hamisu Amos
- Luka Amos
- Tacy Amos
- Cynthia Amos
- Mercy Isaac
- Augustine Makudi
- Matthew Samaila
- Adam Musa
- Malika Sule
- Abu Ahmad
- Hussein Lucky
- Akinyi Sadiu
- Dangata Amos
- Helen Jonathan
- Asinwa Jonathan
- Faith Joseph
- Gloria Kennet
- Happiness Danisa
- Fidelis Jacob
- Tobias Markus
- Istu Paul
- Hassana Paul
- Charity Chindo
- Christiana Danisa
- Everest Danima
- Thomas Philip
- Catrina Danbosi
- Halima Hassan
- Hassan Lukumi
- Mary Sadiu
- Franca John
- Henry Danbiyi
- Ayuba Lawal
- Solomon Ayuba
- Theophilus Danlami
- Charles Sambo
- Rahila Charles
- Gambo Danisa
- Talent Danisa
- Nehemiah Danjuma
- Maijima Shekarau
- Matina Maijima
- Laraba Maijima
- Musa Danjuma
- Ishaya Danima
- Lulu Danisa
- Clement Ahmad
- Destiny Ahmad
- Nehemiah Ishaya
- Simon Ishaya
- Nasty Muku
- Helena Joseph
- Joseph Bawa
- Sarah Joseph
- Bulus Mariya
- Musa Samaila
- Bulus Bawa
- Halima Bawa
- Beture Hosea
- Sati Hosea
- Titus John
- Dogara Bawa
- Lories Bawa
- Adamu Aminu
- Ezekiel Adamu
- Tenah Markus
- Tina Danbosi
- Patricio Bawa
- Janet Tsuda
- Amina Danjuma
- Sandra Danbosi
- Bridget Sunday
- Saphat Innocent
- Alex Sunday
- Beauty Peter
- Samisa Paul
- Joy Joseph
- Methole Johanna
- Genesis Johanna
- Maria Johanna
- Merozdu Adonu
- Karimi Jangbe
- Sunday Martela
- Santina Hershinga
- Keuna Michael
- Hassan Bulus
- Marzeta Maisoni
- Mainwa Dominic
- Godwin Karimi
- Amos Akijo
- Nathan Amos
- Joseph Chindo
- Lydia Godwin
- Hamna Maiyangi
- Toletu Maiyangi
- Esther Godday
- Godswill Godday
- Godlive Samson
- Goodluck Aliga
- Madaki Tabawa
- Tabawa Abba
- Tabawa Iyamye
- Samuel Amos
- Daniel Amos
- Deborah Amos
- Ruth Amos
- Emmanuel Danjuma
- Joshua Danjuma
- Rejoice Danisa
- Blessing Danisa
- Ibrahim Lawal
- Zainab Lawal
- Sadiq Ahmad
- Aisha Ahmad
- Yakubu Musa
- Suleiman Musa
- Rahama Musa
- Daniel Jonathan
- Samuel Jonathan
- Peter Jonathan
- Grace Jonathan
